The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-07-09

The Wandsfings Of two Ssamsn and
Their Strange 1seting.
Philadelphia Press.

Philadelphia Press.
A more curious meeting Of brothers,
perhaps, never took place than what &C.
CURED ON the deck Of the Confederate
States cruiser Shenandoah up among the
ice In Behring straits on June %, 1865
Five years previously John and Fran
cis Turner were . couple Of smart young
fellows In New Orleans, owning . pair
of floats, - the large drays are called
there, with which they made business
Of hauling cotton on the river front. On
au afternoon in the autumn of 1850 John
Turner, the elder brother, was passing
along the lower levee, where . tow Of
sailing vessels, outward bound. was being
made up, when he was called on board
one of them on some pretext and asked
to 90 into the forecsstls. Before be un.
derstood what was going on, the tow cast
loose from the moorings and proceeded
down the Mississippi.
When he appealed to the captain Of the
vessel to be put on shore, he Was laughed
ut, and he found that he had been
/" shanghaied "-thst Is. decoyed on the
ship by the keeper of sailors boarding
house, who had represented him ~ . sea.
man, and drawn his advanced pay, which
Was nearly all his wages for the voyage
to Liverpool, the port of destination
Somes of his mates advised HIM to do his
daty on board, and go to the United
States consul At Liverpool, who would
send him home.
Arrived in England, Immediately upon
landing, nc fell in with just such another
rascal - had shipped him at New
Orleans. and. stupided with drink, he
was again "sl,snghaicd this time on .
vessel bound for China. Before she
reached Hongkoog the drayman had be-
come 6rst rate seaman, and had takeu
. likeing to the life.
Returning to England after the civi
war had begun in America and good
hands were offered double wages tn shiE
on steamers running the blockade o.
southern ports, be engaged iu that dang
erous and profitable service. Unlike
most of bis shipmates in those days o
making money fast aud spending 1
quickly, he was prudent and economical
BY keeping out of the dives and grog
geries Of Nassau, the calling port OF tn
blockade running ferry between Liver
pool and the southern sea coast, wher
ssilormen then matched guineas fo
drinks and one crew WAS known to spent
ei 900 on . nights liberty, he saved mos
of his earnings and soon opened an &C
count at Liverpool bank.
His luck ran along without break un
til November. 1862. when he was IN abl
seaman on the British steamer Bansbee
one of the great deet Of swift ships dod2
ing the Uuited States blockading squad
ron into Charleston or Wilmington Wit
war material and slipping to sea agai
with the precious cotton that was sold
500 per cent profit on the other side
the Atlantic. where it fed the Lancashir
mills aud stopped the mouths Of the rio
ters snd hungry operatives.
On this trip the Banshee Was chase
into the Charleston hsrLor by . Unite
States suuboats, and by the bursting
one of her shells over the blockade run
ner Turner received . wound in the hea
that laid him up in . Charleston boz
pital until after the departure Of his shil
Recovering from his injuries, whic
had tenn mporarily affected his brain. Tu'
ner became possessed Of the impulse
make his way to New Orleans. then
hands of the federal forces, to seek ft
his brother and 8 younger sister who'
he had left there when he was kidnsppe'
It was a perilous journey from the COZ
federate lines into those Of the enem.
but he made his way safely across I'll
Mississippi and reached New Or'eal
early in January, 1868. There be cou!
discover not the slightest vestige OF b
family. They had vanished about IL
time of the federal occupation witho'
leaving any traces Of their departure.
From New Orleans Turner worked d
passage to Mobile in one Of the coa'te
that kept up an illicit traffic between IL
two cities by way of Lake Pontchartra
and Mississippi sound, and At AoOi
shipped on blockade runner for Nas'a
On tho voyage the mental alteration
caused By his wound increased. He b
came usat for any duty and ~as p
ashore ct Nassau.
rhe oopfsdsssts ship Of war Flord1
w.s then in port cosling for cfs'
down he Spanish main and to the pa'
! ;nr Of the marine roads" north OF 9
eou.Aor. She was short handsd. hes co'
, mssder, Csptsis Ms0t. was eadss'o
? iss to pick sp ssansa secretly. 70
avoid violating the British toss'sn {
listment Law, which might have %
E iectsd him IA dstsation.
Turner applied for ssli'tmset' oas :
,.iectsA m acoount Of hio feeble Ape